About the Program
Our program is based along Flathead Lake at the Flathead Lake Biological Station with the University of Montana. The primary objective of the MT PSPP is to have a lasting impact on the health and water quality of the upper Columbia River Basin (CRB), recognizing that protecting the upper basin will also have a continued positive effect downstream. In order to achieve this, we are building a network of partners to join the effort to preserve and protect our waters. We are already working with multiple partners including state organizations, cities, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, and the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho to implement various projects throughout the basin. These efforts will support green infrastructure, agricultural best management practices, community education, research on human health impacts, environmental monitoring and analysis, and science communication. All this work is funded by an award from the US Environmental Protection Agency.
The long-term goal of MT PSPP is to establish a robust network of organizations and individuals, facilitating communication among all parties to make the strongest impact in protecting our waters. We actively seek engagement from landowners, producers, organizations, community groups, and any interested parties in the program, encouraging collaboration to understand the impact of pesticides on our freshwaters and implement actions to safeguard our waters. Ways for people to get involved include actively participating in monitoring activities, sharing information and resources, and assisting in education and outreach efforts to inform communities throughout the basin, among other opportunities. Making an impact on the landscape will require participation from all stakeholders.
Meet the Team
This program is led by Dr. Rachel Malison, assisted by Research Coordinator Janelle Housman and Big Sky Watershed Corps member Jared Glass (2024 term).
About EPA Funding
The EPA has long monitored the Columbia River Basin because of its importance to many different environmental and human systems. In 2016 the Columbia River Basin Restoration Funding Assistance Program was started in order to better monitor and make impacts in the basin, if you would like to know more about the program and its effects check out this story map from the EPA.
Long term studies from the EPA showed that toxics are becoming an increasingly worrisome problem, so in 2021 the EPA was awarded $79 million in funding for the Columbia River Restoration Program by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. In 2023 the EPA awarded $56 million of that funding to support Toxic Reduction Leads, reducing toxics in the Columbia River over the next 5 years. The EPA awarded these funds to address multiple parts of the clean water act, including eliminating or reducing pollution, cleaning up contaminated sites, improving water quality, reducing runoff, protecting habitats, and promoting citizen engagement or knowledge.
Long term studies from the EPA showed that toxics are becoming an increasingly worrisome problem, so in 2021 the EPA was awarded $79 million in funding for the Columbia River Restoration Program by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. In 2023 the EPA awarded $56 million of that funding to support Toxic Reduction Leads, reducing toxics in the Columbia River over the next 5 years. The EPA awarded these funds to address multiple parts of the clean water act, including eliminating or reducing pollution, cleaning up contaminated sites, improving water quality, reducing runoff, protecting habitats, and promoting citizen engagement or knowledge.